Post by freebbc on Mar 13, 2014 16:50:18 GMT
TWO Harlow-based coach operators have had their licences revoked and two others have been fined after the services they provided failed to meet the required standards.
The deputy traffic commissioner for the East of England announced this week the licence of Roadrunner Coaches Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, had been revoked and the company fined £2,500.
Roadrunner Buses Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, had its licence restricted for five days and was fined £3,750, while Olympus Bus and Coach Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, was fined £4,200.
In addition, a licence held by SM Coaches Ltd, of the Burnt Mill Industrial Estate off Elizabeth Way, was revoked. Both the company and its former director, Philip Knight, were disqualified for three years after it was found the company had breached a previous order issued in 2011.
The penalties were imposed following a public inquiry held in Cambridge in December during which the deputy commissioner, Miles Dorrington, heard evidence from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Transport for London in relation to bus services run by all four operators.
The inquiry examined whether management controls within each company were sufficient to ensure they complied with the requirements of an operator licence.
In his report, Mr Dorrington said sa DVSA traffic examiner monitored the 741 service run by Olympus Bus and Coach Ltd and reported that six vehicles were late and one failed to run. He said the company had not given a reasonable excuse for the failures.
Three services operated by Roadrunners Buses were monitored by two traffic examiners over a two-day period. Of 33 scheduled journeys, 14 failed to run, eight arrived early and six were late.
A monitoring exercise on 21 scheduled services on the 255 route operated by Roadrunner Coaches Ltd revealed that three failed to turn up, four were early and six were late. Additional checks showed all six of the observed services were late.
However, Mr Dorrington reserved his harshest criticism for SM Coaches.
“The case of SM Coaches is a bad one,” he said. “I had allowed, by the very narrowest of margins, for this operator to keep its good repute and its operator’s licence after the public inquiry in 2011.
“Operator licensing relies on trust. I had given my trust to this operator and to Mr Knight after the last public inquiry but in doing so it was immediately totally undermined.
“Doing that strikes at the heart of operator licences and at the very jurisdiction of the traffic commissioners who regulate the industry.”
Mr Dorrington said the decision to revoke the company’s licence will take effect from May 15.
He also said the reputation of Olympus Bus and Coach transport manager Carmelo Marino and Roadrunner Buses transport manager Stephen Stapleton had been tarnished.
The Star attempted to contact all four companies for comment but have so far received no responses.
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are aware of the public inquiry and the issues raised. These companies do not provide any services on behalf of the council.”
The deputy traffic commissioner for the East of England announced this week the licence of Roadrunner Coaches Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, had been revoked and the company fined £2,500.
Roadrunner Buses Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, had its licence restricted for five days and was fined £3,750, while Olympus Bus and Coach Ltd, of Greenway Business Centre, was fined £4,200.
In addition, a licence held by SM Coaches Ltd, of the Burnt Mill Industrial Estate off Elizabeth Way, was revoked. Both the company and its former director, Philip Knight, were disqualified for three years after it was found the company had breached a previous order issued in 2011.
The penalties were imposed following a public inquiry held in Cambridge in December during which the deputy commissioner, Miles Dorrington, heard evidence from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Transport for London in relation to bus services run by all four operators.
The inquiry examined whether management controls within each company were sufficient to ensure they complied with the requirements of an operator licence.
In his report, Mr Dorrington said sa DVSA traffic examiner monitored the 741 service run by Olympus Bus and Coach Ltd and reported that six vehicles were late and one failed to run. He said the company had not given a reasonable excuse for the failures.
Three services operated by Roadrunners Buses were monitored by two traffic examiners over a two-day period. Of 33 scheduled journeys, 14 failed to run, eight arrived early and six were late.
A monitoring exercise on 21 scheduled services on the 255 route operated by Roadrunner Coaches Ltd revealed that three failed to turn up, four were early and six were late. Additional checks showed all six of the observed services were late.
However, Mr Dorrington reserved his harshest criticism for SM Coaches.
“The case of SM Coaches is a bad one,” he said. “I had allowed, by the very narrowest of margins, for this operator to keep its good repute and its operator’s licence after the public inquiry in 2011.
“Operator licensing relies on trust. I had given my trust to this operator and to Mr Knight after the last public inquiry but in doing so it was immediately totally undermined.
“Doing that strikes at the heart of operator licences and at the very jurisdiction of the traffic commissioners who regulate the industry.”
Mr Dorrington said the decision to revoke the company’s licence will take effect from May 15.
He also said the reputation of Olympus Bus and Coach transport manager Carmelo Marino and Roadrunner Buses transport manager Stephen Stapleton had been tarnished.
The Star attempted to contact all four companies for comment but have so far received no responses.
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We are aware of the public inquiry and the issues raised. These companies do not provide any services on behalf of the council.”
First it's Travel with Hunny and now its happening to others that are based in Harlow/Epping area!
